Chords
I Shot the Sheriff

I Shot the Sheriff was written by Bob Marley and tells the story of a man who admits to shooting the local sheriff but denies shooting the deputy. The lyrics have been interpreted as a protest against oppression and injustice. Bob Marley is said to have been inspired by resistance to the marijuana ban in Jamaica, where the sheriff was a metaphor for the oppressive system.

Key: Gm

Introduction:

difficulty
easy |||||
 Gm                  Cm                        Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
 Gm                  Cm                       Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy

 Eb      Dm          Gm 
All around in my home town
 Eb                Dm          Gm 
They' re trying to track me down
   Eb                 Dm              Gm 
They say they want to bring me in guilty
        Eb            Dm      Gm 
For the killing of a deputy
        Eb         Dm      Gm 
For the life of a deputy    But I say?
(Play Main Riff)

 Gm                  Cm                       Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
 Gm                  Cm                       Gm 
I shot the sheriff, and they say it is a capital offense

 Eb       Dm           Gm 
Sheriff John Brown always hated me
 Eb      Dm          Gm 
For what I don' t know
 Eb      Dm           Gm 
Every time that I plant a seed
   Eb              Dm          Gm 
He said "Kill it before it grows"
   Eb              Dm          Gm 
He said "Kill it before it grows"   I say!
(Play Main Riff)

 Gm                  Cm                       Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense
 Gm                  Cm                       Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I swear it was in self-defense

 Eb       Dm          Gm 
Freedom came my way one day
 Eb       Dm            Gm 
And I started out of town yeah
 Eb         Dm            Gm 
All of a sudden I see sheriff John Brown
 Eb          Dm        Gm 
Aiming to shoot me down
    Eb    Dm     Gm 
So I shot, I shot him down    I say!
(Play Main Riff)

 Gm                  Cm                        Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy
 Gm                  Cm                        Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I didn' t shoot the deputy

 Eb      Dm          Gm 
Reflexes got the better of me
 Eb      Dm          Gm 
And what is to be must be
 Eb      Dm              Gm 
Every day the bucket falls to the well
 Eb               Dm           Gm 
But one day the bottom will drop out
 Eb         Dm                 Gm 
Yes, one day the bottom will drop out   But I say
(Play Main Riff)

 Gm                  Cm                        Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy, oh no
 Gm                  Cm                        Gm 
I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot no deputy, oh no